This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for Moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.

FIRST TIME HERE?

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO GET STARTED:

Choose your Username.  For the privacy and safety of you and/or your sailor, NO LAST NAMES ARE ALLOWED, even if your last name differs from that of your sailor (please make sure your URL address does not include your last name either).  Also, please do not include your email address in your user name. Go to "Settings" above to set your Username.  While there, complete your Profile so you can post and share photos and videos of your Sailor and share stories with other moms!

Make sure to read our Community Guidelines and this Navy Operations Security (OPSEC) checklist - loose lips sink ships!

Join groups!  Browse for groups for your PIR date, your sailor's occupational specialty, "A" school, assigned ship, homeport city, your own city or state, and a myriad of other interests. Jump in and introduce yourself!  Start making friends that can last a lifetime.

Link to Navy Speak - Navy Terms & Acronyms: Navy Speak

All Hands Magazine's full length documentary "Making a Sailor": This video follows four recruits through Boot Camp in the spring of 2018 who were assigned to DIV 229, an integrated division, which had PIR on 05/25/2018. 

Boot Camp: Making a Sailor (Full Length Documentary - 2018)

Boot Camp: Behind the Scenes at RTC

...and visit Navy.com - America's Navy and Navy.mil also Navy Live - The Official Blog of the Navy to learn more.

OPSEC - Navy Operations Security

Always keep Navy Operations Security in mind.  In the Navy, it's essential to remember that "loose lips sink ships."  OPSEC is everyone's responsibility. 

DON'T post critical information including future destinations or ports of call; future operations, exercises or missions; deployment or homecoming dates.  

DO be smart, use your head, always think OPSEC when using texts, email, phone, and social media, and watch this video: "Importance of Navy OPSEC."

Follow this link for OPSEC Guidelines:

OPSEC GUIDELINES

Events

**UPDATE 4/26/2022** Effective with the May 6, 2022 PIR 4 guests will be allowed.  Still must be fully vaccinated to attend.

**UPDATE as of 11/10/2022 PIR vaccination is no longer required.

**UPDATE 7/29/2021** You now must be fully vaccinated in order to attend PIR:

In light of observed changes and impact of the Coronavirus Delta Variant and out of an abundance of caution for our recruits, Sailors, staff, and guests, Recruit Training Command is restricting Pass-in-Review (recruit graduation) to ONLY fully immunized guests (14-days post final COVID vaccination dose).  

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFO:

RTC Graduation

**UPDATE 8/25/2022 - MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED.  Vaccinations still required.

**UPDATE 11/10/22 PIR - Vaccinations no longer required.

RESUMING LIVE PIR - 8/13/2021

Please note! Changes to this guide happened in October 2017. Tickets are now issued for all guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter base. A separate parking pass is no longer needed to drive on to base for parking.

Please see changes to attending PIR in the PAGES column. The PAGES are located under the member icons on the right side.

Format Downloads:

Navy Speak

Click here to learn common Navy terms and acronyms!  (Hint:  When you can speak an entire sentence using only acronyms and one verb, you're truly a Navy mom.)

N4M Merchandise


Shirts, caps, mugs and more can be found at CafePress.

Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by CafePress.

Navy.com Para Familias

Visite esta página para explorar en su idioma las oportunidades de educación y carreras para sus hijos en el Navy. Navy.com

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CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms

Information

CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms

The heart and soul of the Navy-the cook! Let's swap stories and exchange info about our loved ones being a CS in the Navy!

Members: 309
Latest Activity: Apr 22, 2021

Discussion Forum

Boot camp

Started by Amanda Jan 30, 2019. 0 Replies

Arrived at bc on June 13-CSS

Started by Lea (SHIP 11 DIV 242). Last reply by Lea (SHIP 11 DIV 242) Jun 22, 2017. 2 Replies

My Bird can Cook

Started by My Little Bird. Last reply by disneygirl64 May 10, 2017. 6 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms to add comments!

Comment by NavyMum on August 7, 2018 at 2:52pm

My son just signed up for CSS.  We heard the school was 9 weeks, so is part of that at GL?  

Comment by Rachel on July 28, 2018 at 11:51am

We spent the weekend with our son after PIR. Picked him up at the front gate by 7 and dropped him off by 8. Someone has to go inside with them to check them back in, so make sure you have your ID. Luckily his stay in GL was only a week. Within 2 weeks of arriving he was able to wear civie clothing and go visit the mall. Make sure they have an iron. On base was $35 to $60 according to our son. Thankfully one fella was graduating the week our son arrived so he didn't have to buy one and he left it there for the next one. Always share a taxi because they are expensive for just a short trip. 

Comment by therevbev on July 27, 2018 at 2:17pm

Hi.. No, after PIR your sailor will have only a few minutes to talk to you. Then they must go back to their barracks, get all their gear and are bussed over to the Great Lakes Naval Station (about ½ mile away). There is a park by the front gates and you will have to wait there until about 3 PM before they will have gotten their new rooms, and information.  Then they walk to the gate, use their ID to get you onto the base to "sign them out" until whatever they've been told (usually 7 or 8 PM). This is when you can give them their cellphones and laptops etc.. 

Now the good thing is that usually, they have liberty Sat. and Sun as well, so if you can stay, you get to spend quite a bit of time with them. They will be told the exact times, but you will still have to meet them at the gate, go back in to sign them out and then can finally leave - within 50 miles if I remember right (downtown Chicago is within the limit).

Comment by BoogiesMom on July 27, 2018 at 1:13pm

Hi therevbev,

I am seconding Michaela's question:  I believe I read somewhere on this site that New Sailors with a CS rating move after PIR across the street to the A School side?  Is this correct?  And if so, I am assuming that they can have their cell phones once they have moved into the new Barracks at RTC, right?

Comment by therevbev on July 27, 2018 at 11:23am

Hi, JJOO. USUALLY, and I mean that considering this is the military, the sailors have the weekends free, but still haven't been in long enough to earn much in the way of liberty privileges yet. If I remember correctly, it took a few weeks to earn the right to wear "civies" in public, and the ability to leave the base without a "buddy". Only your sailor will have the schedule or will be able to tell you WHEN he can freely leave Fort Lee. I know that doesn't help with plans, but the military can advance or delay liberty privileges for any reason.

Comment by therevbev on July 27, 2018 at 11:17am

Hi Michaela & BoogiesMom! Welcome. Since it's been awhile I am reposting the relative schedule of what you can expect....(This was true thru last year, hope nothing major has changed.)

The CS all stay at GL for at least 2 and sometimes 4 weeks, or more,  until the class is ready in VA. The first week is indoc classes (a Navy necessity) followed by a lot of cleaning and standing watch. That's just the way of it. As to PIR weekend, you can plan it as it fits your schedule (they have liberty throughout the whole weekend.. must stay at base each night, but you can sign them out Fri. afternoon, Sat & Sun.) since he'll be in Great Lakes, IL for several more weeks.

School is about 5 weeks in Fort Lee, Petersburg, VA. It's there that they will be assigned their first duty station just before the schooling is finished. There is a nice graduation ceremony (about 45 min) with about 1/3rd of the sailors having family present. USUALLY they will finally be permitted leave before reporting to their duty station or ship (my son went immediately to Guam after 10 days to catch a carrier that was already deployed). 

This is the "normal" schedule... at least it is the average timing. The thing to always remember is that it is the military and THAT means nothing is ever written in stone. Not dates, not leave, it's always up in the air! As my Marine parents group says..."Semper Gumby" (always flexible).

Comment by Michaela on July 27, 2018 at 11:04am

Do the sailors stay in a hold division at RTC while going through indoc and waiting for class to pick up at fort lee? Or do they cross the street and go over to the A school side for indoc and hold?

Comment by BoogiesMom on July 27, 2018 at 10:31am

Hey All!

New Navy Mom here.  My SR is set to Graduate from BC on 8/10/18, and after a couple of weeks stay at RTC, he will be going to A School in Fort Lee, VA. 

Anyone have any advice for the new upcoming changes?  He said he has a few friends in BC who will be going with him to VA as CS's, as well, so I'm hoping to revive this thread with some current CS Mommas!  :)

Comment by JJOO on July 7, 2018 at 7:18pm

Since I live in NC will I be able to visit him at A school at Fort Lee

Comment by Rachel on July 6, 2018 at 12:09am

Congrats misstizzy514 and JJOO!! I know you are excited and very proud of your children. Our son has graduated CS school and the time went by way faster than boot camp. Probably because we were able to talk every day. They do keep them busy though.  He will be headed out tomorrow and we have so enjoyed him being home but can tell he is bored and is excited to get started on his career. Good luck to both of you and if I can help with anything feel free to ask.

 

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